Windows user's few comments ...

[aes2011]

Hi, I would just like to mention a few things in my short use of Mint 11.

1. The installation: It's much, much better to go for the full version than the CD version without codecs etc if you don't face legal restrictions. The context is this: I tried to economize on internet usage. But that thinking was wrong because I get the feeling that I used more bandwidth subsequently bringing my Mint 11 up to par.
### Maybe that could be mentioned because bandwidth is a concern for some people and they may choose the false economy of going for the CD rather than the DVD even though they don't have any legal restriction.

2. More on the installation: I was unaware of the restriction on the number of partitions. So I was confused when I didn't see the choice I expected to install Mint 11 alongside Win 7. Fortunately, folks here set me straight on that.
### Is it possible for the installer to suggest the fix rather than just not offer the alongside installation?

3. More on the installation: Some years ago, I had successfully Installed first OpenSUSE and later Ubuntu on a PC running Win XP. I did this without an internet connection from CDs that came with computer magazines.
But this time, when I tried to install Mint 11 from my live USB despite not having the internet on at the time and despite seeing the red cross at the outset, quite a bit of installation did take place before I got the error that installation failed probably because my hard disk was "old".
Out of desperation, I tried again, after cleaning up the mess left behind by the failed install with gparted but with the 'net on. This worked perfectly.
### My suggestion (that would help people who are revisiting Linux again) is to make it clear that a functional internet connection is essential (unlike ages ago) and that the inappropriate (IMHO) error be changed.

4. Using the software manager: while doing the updates prompted by the blue shield and while bringing my CD Mint 11 upto DVD Mint 11 standard, the initial page displays sizes that don't really reflect the entire process.

5. I installed mahjonng three times. That's because after the progress bar reached 100% and vanished, there was no message that the game I wanted was installed. It took me three tries before it sunk in
### Perhaps, a message could be provided that would inform us that the software has been installed?

It's quite possible that all that I've mentioned here has been mentioned before or that I wouldn't have these problems if I had read the manual and Googled enough but

Edit: changed second 4 to 5.

[xenopeek]

2. ... I was unaware of the restriction on the number of partitions. ...

Having the installer at least let the user know there is an issue because 4 primary partitions exist would be an improvement. I'm not sure how the installer could intelligently suggest a solution, that really depends on the contents of the partitions.

This is not covered as a possible issue in the manual. I would have expected it in section "Install Linux Mint on your Hard Drive", especially with more and more stories on notebooks coming standard with 4 primary partitions these days.

4. (sic) ... Perhaps, a message could be provided that would inform us that the software has been installed? ...

No, I don't want any notifications. Before you know it we end up in Windows' "next->next->next->I agree->do it already->finish" hell. I installed it, or I would have gotten an error A mention of this in the manual would perhaps be helpful though.

[altair4]

4. (sic) ... Perhaps, a message could be provided that would inform us that the software has been installed? ...

No, I don't want any notifications. Before you know it we end up in Windows' "next->next->next->I agree->do it already->finish" hell. I installed it, or I would have gotten an error A mention of this in the manual would perhaps be helpful though.

This does bring up an interesting difference between Windows and Linux. Windows users are always informed of the status when they do something. Linux follows the UNIX tradition of returning you to the prompt when the command you executed was successful and only notifies you when something went wrong.

Problem is UNIX / Linux isn't consistent. Let's say I chmod a file on an NTFS partition. I'm returned to the prompt so I assume that it was successful. But it's not because you can't chmod a file in an NTFS partition. It does this because by default a "quiet" flag has been set but the user doesn't know that.

[AlbertP]

1. I don't have bandwith restrictions, I can just start shouting things without knowing what I'm talking about. By the way, I never tried the CD edition.
It's very easy to install codecs on the CD, however. There's an 'Install Codecs' button in the menu.
2. The only work-around is to delete a partition. If all partitions are 'primary', it's not possible to just add a partition. Does not matter if it's Windows or Linux.
And the installer should not delete partitions without asking.
You can use the GParted partitioning program on the CD/DVD to delete a partition that you don't need, and then run the installer again.
3. If you install Mint in English US instead of your own language, it does not download a language pack so does in fact not need internet. Don't know if it works then, but you could at least try it.
4. Never seen this. I don't have to care about bandwith and size, though 500 kB/s is not a very fast internet connection.
5. (think you made a mistake with the number) Agreed.